BANGOR – Vernon Thomas Braley died March 1, 2008. He was born Nov. 30, 1927, in Burnham, to Wilbur Earl and Alice Bacon (Stuart) Braley. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Marilyn Page Braley; daughter, Loretta and her husband, John Solak, of Winterport; daughter, Kathleen and her husband, Keith La-Plante, of Bangor; son, James Vernon Braley and his wife, Susan (Freeman) Braley of Franklin; daughter, Christi and her husband, Frederick Shaver, of Florida. He was predeceased by one son, Thomas Orrin. He also leaves three grandchildren, Kary J. LaPlante and his wife, Raquel (Garcia) LaPlante of Dixmont, Keileen (LaPlante) and her husband, L. Martin Nowell, of Winterport and Alexander Rieschmann of Florida; and four very special great-grandchildren, Sarah, Michael, Lillian and Olivia Nowell of Winterport. Vernon was predeceased by his five siblings, Margaret Higgins, Dorothy King, Gertrude LeClair, Barbara Prouty, Wilbur H. Braley and their spouses. He is survived by many nieces and nephews and their families. He attended Bangor and Veazie schools and Tillamook, Ore. Vernon joined the Army Air Corps in 1943, where he was assigned to the 15th Air Force in Africa and later in Italy. He received a Silver Star in Italy for gallantry in action, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, European and African Medal, Eastern Service Medal with five bronze stars, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Good Conduct Medal. After an honorable discharge, he became an electrician at Dow Air Force Base, Bangor, later advancing to P.O.L.’s Supervisor, 1951-1986. Vernon was very active in the Masons, being past master of Howard Lodge No. 69, Winterport; past district deputy of the Sixth Masonic District of Maine; past master of Cushing Chapter No. 84, Order of the Eastern Star; and the Scottish Rite Shrine of Anah Temple, Bangor. In the late 1950s, Vernon and a partner built Riverside Golf Course, Winterport. They sold the course in the ’70s, but he remained an avid golfer, having taken many awards in Maine and Florida. He was also an accomplished hunter and fisherman. He lived respected and died regretted. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Greenlawn Funeral Home, 300 State St., Bangor, where Masonic services will be held 7 p.m. Interment will be in the spring at Oak Hill Cemetery, Winterport, with a reception afterward. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Howard Lodge, Winterport.
VERNON THOMAS BRALEY
